Silviculture Study Tour to Norway

Transcription

1 Silviculture Study Tour to Norway Learning about forest management; timber processing, treatment and utilisation; and forestry education and training in Norway.

2 Day 1 Arrival in Trondheim The group arrived in Trondheim airport to be warmly met by Peder Gjerdrum, of the Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute, our Norwegian partner, and organiser and hostofthetrip. Also taking part on the trip were Lisa Classon and Karin Ostberg from the Swedish Forest Agency and three wood science students from the Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute. Saga Trollheimen Hotel Scots pine log building components We spent our first night at the Saga Trollheimen Hotel, a wonderful log building made from Scots pine that wouldn thavelookedoutofplaceina fairy tale.

3 Day 2 Timber preservation treatments, traditional log homes After an early start the group arrived at the head office of More-Tre, where we learnt about their Royal timber preservation and treatment processes, which use impregnation with linseed and mineral oils. More Tre plant facility This was quickly followed by a visit to Solem Sag, a specialist company producing profiled Scots pine logs used to build the beautiful houses that one associates with Norway. The final visit of the day was to Rindalshytter, manufacturers of traditional style homes and producers of an incredible range of moulded finishings (such as fascias and skirting boards). In the evening we continued our travels to the vast open scenery of Hjerkinn Fjellstue Solem Sag mobile saw bench Rindalshytter manufacturers of timber homes Typical timber clad log house

4 Day 3 Timber processing, forest management We were looked after for the day by Ragnar Bjertnaes, an old forestry colleague of Peder. He runs a sawmill processing Scots pine timber and is also closely involved in local forest management. We spent the morning learning about the different products produced at the sawmill. These included materials used in traditional building such as waney edge cladding boards and birch bark which was, and still is used as a water membrane in roofing. The afternoon began with a visit to a hydro-scheme project on a deep glacial river gorge in a much visited national park. After this we moved into the forest to learn about Scots pine silviculture and the threats to forestry, particularly from the moose, which will browse trees up to 4m in height! Waney edge board production Our host Ragnar Bjertnaes Birch bark Hydroscheme Inspecting moose damage

5 Day 4 Transmission poles, tree nursery, and trolls! After making sure that none of the party had been abducted by trolls, during our stay at the troll park we travelled to Scanpole, a large producer of transmission poles,manyofwhicharesoldtotheuk. We spent the morning learning about their production and preservation treatment processes. It wasamazingto see the sheer stock of timber on site. Erik Steen the site managerofthecompanyalsocarriedouta breaking strength test on one of the transmission poles at the request of Elspeth. Later that afternoon we visited Skogplaneskole, a modern tree nursery producing mainly containerised plants. It was impressive to see the scale of production and also interesting to hear about how they made a healthy additional income from growing tulips. Stocks at ScanPole Timber being loaded for kiln drying Destruction test Modern nursery facility Containerised plants

6 Day 5-Forestry extension institute The final morning was spent at the Forestry Extension Institute, an organisation that offers further education and practical training in forestry and related topics. Forestry Extension Institute The Director Sjur Hannshus gave a presentation to the group about the role of the institute and its work, particularly courses run for forest owners, work with schools, and publications produce.d The talk triggered a lot of discussion and questions about professional forestry training and wider public education initiatives in the UK and lessons that could be learnt from Norway. Sadly it was time to leave Norway after what everybody agreed had been a very full and interesting trip. Practical forestry training Online education tools Forestry related best practice guidance

7 TakK! A big thanks must go to all those who helped organise, took time out of their busy working days, and drove us, and generally made the trip such a great success, particularly Peder Gjerdrum at the Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute. Peder Gjerdrum Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute Morten Gaasvand Hotel Saga Trollheimen Hallvard Brusethaug MoreTre Emil Gaasvard Rindalshytter Ragnar Bjertnaes langmorkje Erik Steen ScanPole Svein Kristiansen, Ola Gram Daehlen Oppland Skogplanteskole Sjur Hannshus Forestry Extension Institute